BADSHOT LEA 1, SUTTON COMMMON ROVERS 3

ONE step forward, another step back. Badshot Lea could not follow up their excellent win over Chertsey in midweek and lost at home to Sutton Common on Saturday.

Fortunately for the Baggies, Bedfont & Feltham and Raynes Park lost as well and Michael Charles’ side keep the seven-point buffer between them and the bottom two in the Combined Counties Premier League.

The fresh wind dictated the play at Shawfield Road and both sides looked to take advantage of the many mistakes.

Badshot Lea started with the wind at their backs and almost broke the deadlock late in the first half when Ainsley Everett was hauled down and Luke Whiddett’s free-kick brought a great save from Craig Bradshaw.

But it was Sutton?Common who scored a vital goal in the 44th minute. The flag stayed down when Matt Auletta, looking suspiciously offside, released Liam Holden who thumped the ball beyond Brendan Norris.

The visitors charged out of the blocks in the second half and put the game beyond Badshot Lea with goals in the 50th and 65th minutes.

First, the Baggies failed to clear a corner and Anson Cousins crossed the ball back in for Holden to volley home for his second goal.

Holden then turned provider with a deft flick that enabled Stefan Joseph to score his first goal for the club.

Badshot Lea missed some decent chances and substitute Jack May was unlucky not to score, firing just wide after making space for himself with a lightning turn on the edge of the box.

The Baggies finally pulled one back in the 87th minute and no surprise that it was Benga Ogunseye who continued his rich vein of form with yet another goal.

Badshot Lea are at Horley Town this Saturday.

Badshot Lea: Norris, Blake, Goulter, Wright, Whiddett (Borishade), Pilgrim, Blackie, Patterson (May), Everett, Somule (Greenaway), Ogunseye.